“Are you alright?” Shaun asked as he sat beside Finn’s hospital bed.

“Where am I?” Finn groaned sleepily as he blinked his eyes open. He felt as if he was on fire as he lay still, though had no idea why.

“Hospital. Your mum and dad are outside. Grace was freaking out too much and Michael had to take her out for a second to ‘collect herself.’” Shaun said matter-of-factly.

“Oh… Why am I here?” Finn asked as he tried to sit up and then exclaimed in pain.

“I wouldn’t do that if I was you.” Shaun laughed. “You were attacked by a rabid dog.”

“What?” Finn gasped. A rabid dog? That must have been the noise then.

“Yep. When you were on your walk. It must’ve been a big dog too, look at the bite marks.” Shaun nodded.

“How did you find me?” He asked. He remembered that he had been on a pretty secret path.

“I didn’t. Some old man brought you back to the campground and was asking if anyone knew you.” Shaun explained.

“An old man?” Finn thought. He had seen an old man that night. He thought. Had he? Yes. He had. The man had had a dog with him. Maybe that was the rabid dog.

“Yep. Carried you the whole way. He was strong. Like buff ass old man.” Shaun grinned. The idea of an old strong man amused him.

“Oh.”

“Your scars are going to be pretty gnarly after that, Finn. Take a look.” Shaun motioned to Finn's body.

He wasn’t lying. The scabs were awful. Horrible red and brown lines all over his chest and arms. One massive bite mark on his neck. Two bite marks on his thigh. Another on his left hand.

“How am I even alive?” He asked. He wasn’t asking Shaun in particular. He just happened to be there to answer.

“I have no idea. The doctors didn’t think you’d make it for a while. You were pretty messed up.”

“Messed up?”

“Yeah man. You were in and out of consciousness for two weeks. It’s your birthday in… hang on.” Shaun counted on his fingers. “Fifteen days.”

“Oh right.” Finn spoke slowly and unsurely.

Shaun suddenly changed to sympathy. “What are you thinking in there, huh?” He tapped him on the head.

“I don’t know… I don’t know how this happened…”

“That’s alright. You don’t have to know. And you’ll be okay.” Shaun smiled kindly and then changed to a grin. “Maybe we can still go camping!”

“Camping? I don’t think I’m up for it Shaun.” Finn wasn’t surprised at his friend's mention of camping, Shaun could get obsessive over his hobbies. Even in injury, he would prevail.

“It’ll be grand! I’ll take care of you! We can’t not celebrate your birthday.” Shaun rolled his eyes.

“We’ll see what the doctors say and how I feel on Saturday. How about that?” Finn suggested.

“Yes!” Shaun cheered. “I’ll go get the doctor!” He stood and dashed out of the door.

Finn laughed. His friend was easy to please.

Grace and Michael came running in almost as soon as Shaun ran out.

“Finn!” Grace threw her arms around her son causing him to squeal at the pain. “Sorry! Sorry!” She backed away with her hands in surrender. “I didn’t mean to! Are you okay?”

“I’m alright. I feel good.” He smiled. “Sore where I got hurt but other than that, I’m all good.”

Grace was crying and clasped her hands together in a silent prayer. Michael came over and took a closer look at his son.

“Yep you look well. We’ll have you out mowing the lawn in no time.” He nodded with a grin.

“Maybe not dad, thanks.” Finn laughed. “I did have a question though.”

“What’s up?” His dad responded.

“If I feel better by Saturday, and if the doctors say I can… Can I go camping with Shaun for my birthday?” He asked with a hopeful smile.

“I don’t know Finn… That’s pretty soon… You’re badly hurt…” His dad thought aloud.

“I said if I was better by then.” Finn pointed out.

“True, you did…” Michael nodded and looked to his wife. “What do you think Grace?”

“I don’t know.” She frowned. “You could get hurt again.”

“I won’t.” Finn said.

“You can’t promise that.” She looked at him, eyebrows knitted together. “And it will still hurt. You won’t be in the best condition to go out in muddy ground with just someone your own age.”

“Shaun is very responsible.” Finn argued.

“I just don’t know…” Grace frowned.

“What if you came along and stayed in the camp-park. You would be close and we would still get to go camping.” Finn bargained.

“Would you boys stay in the park?” Grace raised an eyebrow. They rarely did.

“Close to it.” Finn smiled hopefully.

“If you feel up to it then, then yes. But your dad goes with you.” She smiled and nodded. Secretly she crossed her fingers that he wouldn’t be up for it on the day. There was still a chance.

“Got him.” Shaun returned with a doctor in tow. The doctor was a man who looked about forty-five years old and friendly.

“Hello Finn.” The doctor smiled warmly. “I’m Doctor Smyth, nice to meet you. How do you feel?”

“I feel okay.” Finn answered. It wasn’t the full truth, but it wasn’t a full lie either. He did feel okay apart from his cuts. And those would feel better in no time.

“And how are your cuts?” Doctor Smyth asked.

“Sore.” Finn answered truthfully.

“Okay. I’m going to do some testing now, do you want anyone in with you?”

Enjoying this book? Seek out the original to ensure the author gets credit.

“No, I'm okay.” Finn said.

“Alright.” Doctor Smyth nodded and looked to everyone else, silently suggesting they leave.

“You sure, Finn? I can stay.” Grace tried to convince him.

“That’s okay mum. See you in a bit.” Finn smiled politely.

“Okay.” Grace said quietly as Michael led her out.

“Don’t die while I’m away!” Shaun laughed and left.

Doctor Smyth was quiet as he ran the tests, other than when he had to ask questions. It was a very long and boring experience. Finn understood nothing that was going on and remembered none of it afterwards.

“Alright, thanks for your cooperation Finn. I’ll tell everyone they can come back now.” Doctor Smyth stood up and left. In rushed Shaun, Grace and Michael once again.

“Did you ask the doctor about camping?” Finn asked his dad.

“Not yet, sport.” Michael laughed at his son's enthusiasm.

“Can you? Please?” Shaun begged Michael. He was practically Michaels second son at this point.

“Alright, alright. I’ll go ask.” Michael said with a laugh as he left.

“Don’t be disappointed if the doctor says no, okay boys?” Grace said as she silently prayed that he would. “There will be camping trips later, you don’t need one now if it’s not safe.”

“We know mum.” Finn said with a pleasant laugh.

“So long as you know.” She said simply.

When Michael came back in, he frowned. The boys got upset.

“He said no?” Finn asked sadly.

“No.” Michael suddenly smiled. “You should be fine by then. But it’s all up to how you feel then. If you feel even slightly sick I need you to tell us, okay?” He said sternly.

“Alright!” The boys cheered.

Finn still felt sore by Saturday, understandably. It was tolerable though. Unless he moved in the wrong way. Other than that, everything was fine.

“And you’re sure you’re okay?” Mr Lowry asked as he drove to Shaun's house. Finn was allowed to go camping. “It’s not too late to back out.”

“No, I’m okay. Really.” He nodded from the backseat.

“So long as you’re sure.” He smiled. “It’ll be nice for you to get out of the house.”

“Yeah.” Finn smiled.

“Good. Not for me though. Hate camping.” Michael shuddered. He had only been camping three times in his life, all times with his dad. They had been the most boring nights of his life.

“You chose to come with us.” Finn laughed.

“No, your mum sacrificed me.” Michael laughed along.

The rest of the drive was quiet. When they finally got there, Sandra and Shaun were standing at the driveway with his bags waiting.

“Finn!” Shaun grinned. Finn got out of the car to help with the bags.

“Heya Michael, how are you?” Sandra asked through the window.

“We’re alright.” He smiled. “I don’t know why they’re so desperate to go camping.”

“Me neither!” Sandra laughed. “I’ve told mine to look after Finn though, so you can relax.”

“They’ll always take the best care of each other, eh?” Michael laughed. “And relax? While camping? No way.” He chuckled and rolled his eyes. Finn and Shaun had dumped Shaun’s bag into the car and jumped into the car. Michael could feel their eyes boring into his neck to hurry him along. “Anyway I’d better get them to their forest then or they’ll be huffing. See you, Sandra.”

“See ya, Michael.” Sandra waved. “Bye boys!”

“Bye mum!” Shaun cheered.

“Bye Sandra!” Finn waved back to her.

It was late at night by the time they had got to the forest, so they just went straight to the campsite to unpack. It wasn’t busy for early June, just a couple campers and a tent. Finn and Shaun didn’t mind though. They liked this kind of visit more than busy times, it was quieter. During the busy summer months it was hard to find a spot and it was always full of loud children who were up playing all day and night.

“Hey Shaun?” Finn tapped his friend's shoulder to get his attention. Michael was setting up his tent over by the car and Finn had had a sudden idea.

“Yeah?” He turned to face Finn. He could already predict what was about to be said and was excited.

“Do you want to set up in the camp site?”

“What do you mean?” Shaun asked with a grin.

“Like, do you want to stay at the campsite or do you want to go to the hill?”

“Should we go away from your dad?”

“Just if you want to. If you don’t then I’ll stay here.”

Shaun thought for a second.

“Let’s go off, it’s always more fun anyway.”

“Yes!” Finn celebrated. “Hey dad?”

“Yes?” Michael looked up from his tent. He looked stressed and very confused. It was like he was in a fight with the tent and was losing.

“Can we camp over there? Just a little off the campground?” Finn smiled hopefully.

Michael frowned and thought it over. “I guess. But be safe. I’m here if you need me, okay?”

“Thanks dad!” Finn grinned.

Shaun and Finn walked off to the top of a nearby hill and searched for a nice clearing. It was a peaceful walk. They didn’t talk for most of the journey, occasionally Shaun would tell Finn some little detail about the plants surrounding them. That was one of the best parts of going on walks with Shaun, it was always informative. When they reached their private campground, the moon was beginning to come out and the stars were lit up clearly.

“Hey, look. It’s a full moon.” Finn pointed.

“Oh yeah. Sweet.” Shaun smiled up at it. “You’re such a nerd with your space stuff.”

Finn laughed. He did like outer space. It was just so cool. Something so infinite just out of reach? And the moon being so close that you could see it? Incredible. Shaun was more into it though, which Finn made sure to point out.

“The moon is so pretty tonight.” Shaun sighed.

“You gonna get all existential on me?” Finn laughed as he hoped the answer would be no.

“No. I’m good.” Shaun smiled softly and they both knew it was true. He was good. Sandra had helped him by being the mum his birth mum had never been. His dad had been getting better lately too. He had been more present. Less work. Less drinking. Shaun still wasn’t sure where he stood with his dad but he knew that at least now it was somewhere good. That was all that mattered.

“Good.” Finn nodded knowingly.

Eventually they found a clearing near the river.

“The trolls will come for us.” Shaun laughed.

“Oh I forgot about that!” Finn lied. “We should find somewhere else then.”

“What? Scared of some little trolls?” Shaun mocked.

“Nope! I’m nearly fourteen now. I’m scared of nothing.” Finn laughed.

They set up their tent quickly and unpacked everything else. It was only ten o’clock by the time they had finished, so they decided to stay up a little longer. Finn lit the fire while Shaun went off to look for logs to sit on.

“Got some.” Shaun said as he returned with a singular log in hand.

“Some?” Finn asked with raised eyebrows.

“I’ll go back for the other one. I’ve only got two hands.” Shaun scoffed as he set it down before he left again.

For a while into the night they just sat by the fire and chatted. Nothing really important was said. It was just nice. They spoke about school, Finn’s upcoming birthday, how pretty the stars looked… Just whatever came to mind.

“You hear what Jack did on Monday?” Shaun asked.

“No?” Finn raised an eyebrow.

“He swore out Mrs Johnson.”

“No!”

“Yep.” Shaun laughed as he nodded. Jack was a wildcard. “She committed the crime of walking behind him.”

“Oh my God.” He laughed and rolled his eyes. “Full on swore her out?”

“Yep. Any word you can think of, he used it.”

“Then what happened?”

“Nothing. She just walked away.”

“Seriously?”

“Yep.”

“Sucks.”

“Funny though.”

“Yeah.”

“Are you excited for your birthday?” Shaun asked after a while of silence.

“I guess.” Finn sighed.

“You guess?” Shaun looked round at him. “Where’s the enthusiasm?”

“It’s just another day, y’know?”

“Oh no.” Shaun gasped.

“What?” Finn looked around, startled.

“Now you’re the existential one.” Shaun giggled.

“No I’m not!” Finn laughed with him. “It’s just another day. I’ll just be a little older.”

“Sure. You okay though?” Shaun said lightly, he was hoping Finn would say yes, he had no idea how to comfort people, even his best friend.

“Yeah, I’m fine.” Finn nodded.

At this point it was getting pretty late. Shaun was yawning every two minutes; Finn was timing them.

“I’m going to go to sleep. You?” Shaun yawned at eleven thirty.

“Going to go on a walk.” Finn joked.

“Really?” Shaun looked at his friend in disbelief. “After you got hurt last time?”

“No, of course not.” He laughed. “I’ll go to sleep too.”

“Alright.” Shaun laughed along as he climbed into the cramped tent. Soon, they both fell asleep.

At twelve, Finn woke up in agony.

His scabs all seemed to be awake. And they were all enraged. They screamed and pulled and punched at him. The cramped walls of the tent were only making it feel worse. He climbed out as quickly as his limbs would let him

When he was out of the tent, the pain seemed to get worse. It was as if the moonlight was suddenly burning. And burning with the power of the sun. He couldn’t control his reaction any longer, he let out a shriek.

Still Shaun slept on. He always complained about Finn’s sleeping habits, but could sleep through everything in the world himself. Finn somehow managed to stand through the pain and stumble back into the tent. He shook Shaun so hard and fast that he woke up.

“What? Finn?” He sat up sleepily.

“Shaun. I don’t know what’s happening but something’s wrong.” Finn was grunting between almost every word. His body felt like it was out of control. And on fire. Still the fire.

“What’s wrong with you?” He asked as they both climbed out. He took a look at his friend in the moonlight and almost screamed himself. “Oh my god.”

“Help me!” Finn managed to groan.

“What’s wrong with you?” Shaun repeated, this time crouching beside Finn in panic.

“I don’t know!” He grunted angrily. Now was not the time for Shaun’s dumb questions.

“That’s not very helpful.” Shaun yelped. “I’m going to go get help. Stay here!” He stood up.

“Where would I go?” Finn groaned then screamed.

“Not the time!” Shaun laughed before running off.